Article holder



oct. 29, 1963 B, T, MORRIS 3,108,695

ARTICLE HOLDER Filed March 20, 1961 JNVENToR. E LANuAQ| T. Moms UnitedStates Patent O 3,163,695 ARTICLE HUIDER Blanchard 'i'. Morris, 612 W.llth Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Mar. 2i), 1961, Ser. No. 96,810 2Claims. (Cl. 2li- 55) This invention relates to holders for articles,and more particularly to such a supporting structure adapted to bemounted on a wall Withthe `article-receiving portionkpositionedoutwardly therefrom and arranged to receive and engage portions of anarticle such as toothbrushes and the like.

It is desirable to have means in bathrooms and preferably locatedadjacent tothe lavatory for supporting toothbrushes and like articles inan easily accessible position. However, such permanent supportingdevices as have been used in residences `are not suitable for use inhotel rooms or like accommodations for travelers or tourists due to thediiculty in maintaining surfaces thereof sanitary. Also, `a person isreluctant to have an article for personal use and cleanliness come incontact with surfaces which may have been used for iterrs of a number ofprevious occupants of the room, particularly where the article is atoothbrush or the like.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide Ya holderfor toothbrushes and the like articles with a disposable portionproviding the surfaces contacted by the article to be supported; toprovide such a structure with a bracket portion adapted to be mounted'on a Wall or other supporting structure with `an arm extendingoutwardly therefrom adapted to receive `a disposable articleengagingmember; to provide such a structure wherein the toothbrush-receivingmember is ilat whereby it is easily cut and shaped from flat stock ofsuitable paper or other inexpensive material for economical disposal andreplacement after each use; to provide lsuch a structure wherein the armportion of the support has a bifurcated outer portion or extension withresiliency therein whereby a stiff at sheet can be inserted therebetweenand resiliently gripped to prevent laccidental displacement therefrom;to provide such a structure forming a mounting for the removable andreplaceable member whereby it can be easily and readily removed yand afresh member inserted; to provide a replaceable disposable yarticlesupport member in a cover or container to maintain said member sanitary,said cover Ibeing thin walled and separable whereby the covered memberis insertable into the holder and said cover removed at the time it isto be used; to provide such a structure with a removable disposablemember that is spaced from the wall and having openings for receivinghandle portions of toothbrushes or the like to mount same with thebristle portion thereabove and out of Contact with `any other member toaid in maintaining a clean and sanitary condition; and to provide aholder for toothbrushes and like articles which is simple and eicient instructure and which is entirely sanitary with inexpensive removabledisposable portions engaging the `article whereby a patron will have nohesitancy in placing his articles thereon.

Other objects :and advantages of this invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with theyaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration andexample certain embodiments of this invention.

FlG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying `the 3,108,695Patented Oct. 29, 1963 lCC features of the present invention withtoothbrushes supported thereon. v

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable support member in aseparable cover.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a holder bracket rand armportion mounted on a Wall and a removable portion of the holder inspaced relation thereto before assembly thereof.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of thebr-acket and arm portion of the holder.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the covered disposablemember taken on the line 5 5, FIG. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The numeral l generally designates an article holder having a bracketportion 2 having an arm 3 extending therefrom and arranged to receive`and support a removable and replaceable member 4 adapted to receivearticles 5 such as toothbrushes and the like to be supported. -In thestructure illustrated, the bracket portion 2 is `a platelike memberhaving spaced apertures 7 extending therethrough to receive attachingscrews or other suitable fastening devices 8 for securing the plate-likemember with a surface 9 thereof engaging a surface 10 of a wall or otherobject 1I. The plate-like member is illustrated as being circular forneatness of appearance. The arm 3 preferably extends axially outwardlyfrom the bracket or plate-like member 2 at a right angle thereto. Thearm 3 has an outer end portion or extension 12 for receiving 'thearticle-carrying member 4. In the illustrated structure,'the extension12 carried by the arm 3 is integral therewith and consists of a reducedportion extending therefrom and bifurcated to provide la slot I3 betweenspaced substantially parallel fingers I4 which have resiliency normallybiasing the fingers i4 inwardly to grip the member 4 when positioned inlthe slot 13. In the illustrated structure, the arm portion 3 ispreferably cylindrical `and the bifurcated portion is also cylindricalterminating in -a generally conical end I5 whereby thel exposed surfacesare round and easily cleaned. The bracket member and arm may be made of`any suitable material, such as metal and the like, with the fingers I4mounted to have resiliency or provide spring-like action. However, it ispreferred that the bracket arm and parallel members or fingers 14- bemade integral and of a suitable synthetic resin whereby it can be moldedfor economical production.

The removable replaceable member l is preferably formed of a fiat sheetof stiif paperboard or the like whereby it has rigidity to supportarticles. The member 4 is preferably, though not necessarily, made ofpaper such as a stilf waterproof heavy paperboard to retain its shapeand have suicient strength to support the articles adapted to bepositioned thereon. The slot I3 formed by the fingers Id is preferablyarranged to have a slightly enlarged portion le at the outer endsthereof to facilitate insertion of the member 4 between the members orfingers I4. Intermediate the length of the fingers, the slot is normallyof less width whereby the member 4 tends to spread the members 14 toprovide a gripping action, and said slot terminates as at 17 in coplanarrelation to the end I8 of the arm portion 3 whereby an edge I9 of'thereplaceable member 4 Will engage the surface of the shoulder or end l toaid in positioning and holding the member i against accidentaldisplacement. The structure is arranged whereby when the bracket issecured to a wall with the arm extending outwardly therefrom, the slotis horizontal whereby the plane of the flat plate-like member 4 ishorizontal. The replaceable member 4 is preferably generally rectangularwith the corners rounded as at 2t) and a plurality of recesses 21 arearranged along each side edge 22 and extend inwardly therefrom, saidrecesses each having an enlarged portion 23 spaced from the respectiveside edge 22 with a narrow neck or mouth 24 extending inwardly from theedge 22 to provide access for the recess to facilitate moving portionsof an article therein, as later described. The replaceable member 4 ispreferably arranged with each end portion identical with the otherwhereby the member 4 is reversible, making it immaterial which end isinserted into the slot between the bifurcated portions or fingers of theholder.

The arrangement of the member 4 is such that the portion 25 of thehandle 26 of the toothbrush adjacent the bristle end 27 may be insertedthrough the mouth 24 to position the handle in the recess 2li with thebristle portion above the plate-like support removable member 4. Also,the recess 2i is of such size that the handle 26 may be inserted intothe recess and dropped therethrough whereby the bristle portion 27 willengage the member 4 and rest thereon. The recesses are spaced from thebifurcated portion of the holder whereby the toothbrushes or articlessupported will be supported entirely by the member 4 and will not comein contact with any other part of the support.

The replaceable and disposable support member 4 is preferablyindividually packaged in a protective cover or container 28. The coveror container 28 is formed of suitable thin walled impervious materialsuch as plastic film, foil or paper coated with Wax, plastic or thelike. However, it is preferred that the walls 29 of the cover 28 bereadily scalable by heat or adhesive. In the structure illustrated thecontainer or cover 23 is of heat sealable transparent plastic filmhaving a thickness in the nature of 1/2 mil. As an example of suchcontainer the film may be in a tube form of suchsize that when sleevedover the support member 4 the cover will engage the side edges 22 andthe opposite faces of the support member 4. The ends of the cover aresealed as at 3i) and 31 with one end portion being of such extension toform a tab 32. VThe cover or container is of suitable structure to havereadily separable portions for removal from the support member 4. Theseparable portions may be provided by weakened lines, perforations ortear strips and may be at Iany suitable position. In the illustratedstructure, the cover 28 has spaced weaken lines 3.3 and 34 extendinglongitudinally from end to end whereby the tab 32 may be gripped andpulled longitudinally to separate the cover on the adjacent weakenedlines. The separation lines 33 and 34 are preferably spaced apartslightly more than the width of the extension 12 whereby when thecovered support is engaged in the slot 13, the cover can be separated oneither or both sides of said extension without disturbing the portion ofthe cover in said slot.

In using a supporting device constructed and assembled as described, thebracket is secured to a wall whereby the arm 3 extends outwardlytherefrom and the slot 13 is in a horizontal plane, a replaceable member4 enclosed in its cover or container 28 and thereby a sanitary package,is positioned with the separation lines 33 and 34 parallel to theextension and then said covered support member is inserted into theopening 16 to the slot 13 and moved longitudinally of the arm until thecover adjacent the edge 19 engages the end 18 of the arm 3, with thebifurcated portions or fingers 14 substantially equally spaced from theside edges 22 and between the lines 33 and 34. The support memberremains covered so a new patron can readily see it has not been used.Then the patron can grasp a tab 32 and pull same separating a sideportion of the cover therefrom whereby removal Yof said side portionexposes a portion of the support member for use as in FIG. l. The patroncan then take a toothbrush and insert the handle portion into a recess21 whereby the bristle portion 27 rests on the upper surface 35 of theplate-like removable member 4. The brush can be removed and used andreplaced as desired by the patron. The replaceable member 4 can bereadily removed and replaced with a fresh member when desired, and whena dilerent patron is to occupy the room a fresh covered support platemember d is inserted in the bracket whereby the patrons toothbrush maybe supported in an entirely sanitary manner without Contact with anyportion of the support structure that would have been contacted by anarticle of another person. Also, the structure of the bracket and arm issuch that the surfaces thereof may be readily cleaned whereby the entirestructure will present a neat fresh appearance with a sanitaryarticlecontacting portion that a patron can use with confidence. Theremovable member 4 is of a structure whereby it can be die-cut fromsheets of stiti paper for quantity production at low cost, yet providinga shape that is particularly sturdy to assure proper support of anarticle thereon.

It is to be understood that while l have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited Vto the specificforms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown except insofaras such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A holder for toothbrushes and like articles comprising, a bracketmember adapted to be secured to a wall, an arm carried by said bracketmember and extending outwardly therefrom, a pair of elongate resilientmembers on said arm and extending therefrom oppositely from the bracketin spaced substantially parallel relation providing an elongate openingtherebetween extending from outer ends thereof, and a disposable supportformed from a iiat sheet of inexpensive material, a thin walled coverenclosing said support to maintain same sanitary before use, saidcovered support having a thickness greater than the opening between theresilient members and being removably mounted between said resilientmembers whereby it is yieldably retained, said support having a sizethat certain edges are spaced from the resilient members, said supporthaving article-receiving openings adjacent said certain edges and spacedfrom the resilient members, said cover having separation lines thereinadjacent said resilient members for removal of cover portions from saidsupport as it is held by said resilient members to exposearticle-receiving openings.

2. A holder for toothbrushes and like articles comprising, a bracketmember having a round portion adapted to be secured to a wall and anintegral arm extending axially outwardly therefrom at right anglesthereto and terminating in an end remote from said round portion, saidarm being generally cylindrical in shape, a generally cylindricalextension on said arm and extending axially outwardly from the endthereof and terminating in a pointed outer end, said extension having aslot extending from the outer end to the end of the arm and arranged ina horizontal plane to separate said extension into spaced elongateresilient fingers normally biased toward each other, a disposablesupport of flat sheet of inexpensive paper-like material, a thin walledimpervious cover enclosing said support to maintain same sanitary beforeuse, said covered support having a thickness greater than the slotbetween the resilient ngers and removably mounted therebetween wherebysaid resilient fingers grip said covered support, said support having asize whereby one edge engages the end of the slot adjacent the end ofthe arm and other edges are spaced from the extension, said supporthaving a plurality of recesses adjacent side edges thereof with eachhaving a restricted opening extending to said adjacent side edges forinsertion of the handle of a toothbrush into the recesses with thebristle portion above the support and exposed to the atmosphere, saidcover having separation lines spaced from the portion of the coveredarticle support gripped by said fingers, and tabs on said cover adjacentsaid separation lines and adapted to be grasped and pulled to effectseparation and removal of portions of the cover from said support as itis gripped by said fingers to expose the recesses in the mangas UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Kulling Ian. 14, 1947 6 Ornell Oct. 24, 195 Sinder Sept.13, 1955 Beteridge May 26, 195g Ellot Dec. 8, 1959 Eliot Dec. 8, 1959Jenkins Oct. 25, 196C

1. A HOLDER FOR TOOTHBRUSHES AND LIKE ARTICLES COMPRISING, A BRACKETMEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A WALL, AN ARM CARRIED BY SAID BRACKETMEMBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A PAIR OF ELONGATE RESILIENTMEMBERS ON SAID ARM AND EXTENDING THEREFROM OPPOSITELY FROM THE BRACKETIN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION PROVIDING AN ELONGATE OPENINGTHEREBETWEEN EXTENDING FROM OUTER ENDS THEREOF, AND A DISPOSABLE SUPPORTFORMED FROM A FLAT SHEET OF INEXPENSIVE MATERIAL, A THIN WALLED COVERENCLOSING SAID SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN SAME SANITARY BEFORE USE, SAIDCOVERED SUPPORT HAVING A THICKNESS GREATER THAN THE OPENING BETWEEN THERESILIENT MEMBERS AND BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID RESILIENTMEMBERS WHEREBY IT IS YIELDABLY RETAINED, SAID SUPPORT HAVING A SIZETHAT CERTAIN EDGES ARE SPACED FROM THE RESILIENT MEMBERS, SAID SUPPORTHAVING ARTICLE-RECEIVING OPENINGS ADJACENT SAID CERTAIN EDGES AND SPACEDFROM THE RESILIENT MEMBERS, SAID COVER HAVING SEPARATION LINES THEREINADJACENT SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS FOR REMOVAL OF COVER PORTIONS FROM SAIDSUPPORT AS IT IS HELD BY SAID RESILIENT MEMBERS TO EXPOSEARTICLE-RECEIVING OPENINGS.